Mouse and rat trap



May 3o, 1939. C, R. man; 2,160,717

uous ANB RAT TRAP Filed uarch 12, 195? 3 sheets-sheet 1 May 30, 1939. A

O. R..`BOOTH MOUSE AND RAT TRAP 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March l2, 1957 May 30, 1939. o. R. BOOTH loUsE AND RAT'TRAP s sheets-sheet 3 Filed March l2, 1937' Patented May 30, 1939 UNI TED vS'TAFES MOUSE 4RAT .TRAP

Olin R..Booth, Cainsville, Mo.

.Application 'March 12,

v15 Claims.

The present invention relates to mouse-and rat traps and is a continuation in part of myrapplication, Serial No. 721,942, led April 23, 1934,a1- lowed July 14, 1936.

:f An object of my invention is to provide a trap for animals, suchas mice and rats, lhaving improved construction for vsetting it and retaining it set, such construction -being comparatively simple, durable and inexpensive to manufacture.

A further object is Vto provide f'oi` the ordinary type of mouse trap, a bait bar raising means which is 'easily operable to positivelyrretain the bait bar is raised position until the'trap is-nally placed in the position desired.

More particularly, it is my object to provide a bait bar raising meanshaving a depressible portion which `can-be engaged vby the hand of the user which is used to support thertrap while plac- V ing ittin the nal position desired.

Another object is to provide a novel type of holder loop retainer for a mouse trap which automatically swings into position to be'engaged'by the bait bar when the holder loop of the'trap is swung to its setposition.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will now be more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure' 1 is a plan View of a mouse or rat trap embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a sidefelevation of the same, showing the parts in one position during setting of the trap. A

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the trap fully set and held in the hand of the user.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modied form of holder loop retainer.

Figures 5 and 6 are plan views showing modified forms of bait bar raising element.

Figure 7 is a'plan View of a further modification of the bait bar raising element.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the form shown in Figure 7 with the trap in unsetposition.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the form shown in Figure '7 with the'trap in set position.

Figure 10 is a sectiontaken on line -I U-IU of Figure 7.

Figure 11 is a plan view of a still further modication.

Figure 12-is la side elevation thereof.

Figure 13 is al sectionon line I3--I3'of Figure 11.

Figure 14 disclosesa plan viewof -another embodiment of my inventionyand 1937, Serial No. 130,595

('Cl. I3-w81) Figure is a side elevation partly in section of the modification shown in Figure 14.

On the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference numeral I0 to indicate a base. 'Ihe base I0 and parts I2 to 22 which I will now de- 51 scribe are parts of an ordinary mouse or rat trap as at present constructed for commercial production.

'Ihe base Ill is usually of wood and has a pair of staples I2 extending upwardly therefrom. A holder loop I4 is pivoted in the staples and constrained to the holding pisition of Figure 1 by a spring IE. A staple I8 is provided on which a latch 2li is pivoted, the latch being secured to a baitbar 22. 'I'he bait bar 22 usually has some means for holding bait23, such as a socket 22a. The holder loop I4 has a lip I5.

I provide a novel form of holder loop retainer A which may be in the form of a strip of sheet metal having a major portion 26, pivot eyesf28 f and a tail piece 30. A staple 24 extends upwardly from the base and the eyes 28 are pivoted on the cross piece thereof.

My improvement also includes a bait bar rais- A ing element B having a bait'bar engaging portion 25 3| and bent at 32 to extend pivotally over the spring I6, the pivotal portion being indicated at 36.

A portion 38 is retained by a staple 48 and is depressible wherebythe portion 36 pivots over the spring I6 and the bait bar engaging portion 3I raises the bait bar 22. As a further means of positioning the element B, it can be provided with an eye 34 associated with the staple I8.

In setting the trap, the rst operation isV to *35 engage the lip- I5 and use it to swing the retainer A to the full line position of Figure 2. The base I8 can then be held in the left hand and the right hand used to swing the loop I4 clockwise to the full line position of Figure 2. The right hand '40 R can then be used as illustrated so that the thumb has leverage to swing the holder loop I 4 further as indicated by the arrow a, which will cause the holder loop I 4 to engage the tail piece 38 and swing the retainer A as indicated by the '45 arrow b to the dotted line position and then on over Vso that the terminal end of the portion 26 swings under the latch 20.

'I'he left hand L is then used to depress the portion 38 of the bait, raiser element B and to supe' port the trap as shown in Figure 3. This causes the latch 20 to positively retain the holder loop retainer A so that the right hand can then be removed'from the trap and the trap is entirely and safely supported in the left hand.

In this position, it can be carried from one room to another and placed on a surface where it is to remain without any danger of being tripped. In placing it on such a surface, it need not be set down carefully as the base I0 can iirst be engaged with the surface, whereafter the ngers of the left hand can be withdrawn, still causing the thumb engaged with the portion 38 to depress it and thus keep the bait bar safely latched. With the hand in such position, the trap can be slid over the surface if it is desired to change its position and finally the thumb can be lifted from the portion 38 of the raiser element B so that its end 3l will drop, thus leaving' the bait bar in position to release the retainer A whenever it is depressed.

From the foregoing description, it is obvious that the position of the portion 38 is quite important. Placed as it is, there is no danger of catching a finger in the trap and this is especially desirable on rat traps which have springs so strong that fingers can be broken by them.

The portion 38 is across the spring I 6 from the bait bar 22, the side of the spring on which the bait mar is mounted being the dangerous half of the base I0. The lip I5, by engaging the base III, serves as a stop in the set position of the trap to prevent the holder loop I4 from getting under the tail piece 30.

Even if the trap is accidentally jarred from the users hand while holding it as shown in Figure 3 and the bait bar 22 trips, the loop I4 is at the start of its spring urged movement and thus does not have enough momentum to hurt the users thumb' when it strikes it. After it does strike it, the trap will be thrown away from the users hand so that when it nally closes, it cannot in any conceivable manner catch the hand.

Also, the trap when set down is held as in Figure 3 so that if after releasing it, it should trip, the hand is adjacent the safe half rather than the dangerous half of the base I0.

Another way of carrying the trap after setting it is to engage the edges of the base with the second nger and tumb of either hand and hold the portion 38 of the element B depressed with the forefinger of that hand.

In Figure 4, I have shown a modified form of holder loop retainer. It has been given the reference character A and has parts similar to the sheet metal type of retainer heretofore described. The various parts of the retainer are given the same reference numerals with the addition of the distinguishing characteristic a.

In Figures 5 and 6, I illustrate modified form of the element B, these elements being indicated by B and B" in these figures.

'I'he element B has some parts corresponding to the element B and these are given the same reference numerals with the addition of the distinguishing characteristic a. In addition to these parts, a staple 42 is provided to straddle the element B instead of the eye 34 for coaction with the staple I8. Also a U-shaped portion 44 and a portion 36a, each similar to the portion 36 of Figure l are provided and rest on the spring I6.

In Figure 6, similar parts of the element B" corresponding to the element B are given the same reference numerals with the addition of the distinguishing characteristic b.

In addition to these, a notch-like portion 46 is provided in the element B to coact with the staple I8 and thus eliminate the staple 4I) of Figure l. The elements B and B are provided with portions 38a and 3817, respectively, which are in the same position with respect to the base of the trap as the portion 38 of the element B. As pointed out, the position of this portion is quite important.

Referring now to Figures 7 to l0, there is disclosed another embodiment of my invention, wherein the safety device or bait-raising element is so formed that it may be maintained in operative position entirely clear of or outside the connes of the holder loop. As in the other forms, the trap comprises a rectangular base I0, a holder loop I4 pivoted in staples I2, and a centrally disposed coil spring I5 within which the holder loop is pivoted and which normally retains the loop in the position shown in Figure 7, that is, on the left hand side of the base I0. 'I'he bait bar 22 is likewise pivoted to the staple I8 on this side of the spring I6 and is provided with a latch 2l) engageable with the free end of the loop retainer A. This latter element is pivotally mounted upon the staple 24 positioned adjacent the right hand end of the base, that is, on the side opposite that upon which the bait holder is mounted. This retainer element is formed of sheet metal of substantial Width and is provided with a tail-piece 30. It will be observed that the major portion of the retainer element is provided with a longitudinally extending strengthening rib 41. This rib terminates short of the extreme free end of the retainer to provide a at, smooth end portion 48 which coacts with the latch 2l]` to retain the trap in set position.

In this form of the device, the bait bar raising element 4S includes a portion 50 extending under the bait bar and having its extreme end portion connected to the staple I8. The major portion of this element extends substantially longitudinally of the base I0 and is provided with a laterally bent U-shaped portion 5I straddling the spring I6 and constituting means for positioning and pivoting the element upon the base. The element then passes through the staple 52 at a slight incline and is then curved outwardly and downwardly to form a finger engaging end portion 53 which terminates within the confines of one longitudinal edge of the base I0. It will be observed that the base at this point, that is, directly below the portion 53, is cut away to piovide a substantially semi-circular notch 54.

With this construction, and assuming that it is desired to set the baited trap, the latter is initially held in the left hand of the operator. The operator then grasps the lip I5 with the thumb and forenger of his right hand and moves the holder loop about its pivot against the tension of the spring I6 until it travels the full half circle and contacts with the other side of the base. The end of the loop will, as in the other modifications, engage the tail piece 3 and swing the loop retainer about its pivot so that its extreme free end will engage the latch 20 of the bait bar. The left hand may then be removed from the base of the trap to permit the thumb and forenger of this hand to be free to actuate the handle portion 53 of the safety device.

With the palm of the left hand turned upwardly, the forenger is inserted into the notch 54 between the holder loop I4 and the end portion 53 of the safety device, that is, the fingernail of the foreiinger will bear against the end portion 53. At the same time, the thumb will engage the base within the holder loop as shown in Figures 9 and 10. The fingers of the right hand may then be disengaged from the trap, as it will now be securely held with the safety device in aueofftiv operative position. The pressure of the :thumb on the base lwill effect a slight wedging. action of .theforengerV between the end portion 53 and the loopil which will permit the trap to be'moved about without any ,danger of the safety device being released. .It willbe observed that no por- -tion Vof the left hand is beneath the base, thus permitting thetrapto be laid .upon a flat surface `without the necessity of -removing one or more fingers. After the trap has been deposited, the thumb may then be removed from thehase, with the forenger still in engagement with the end portion: 53. This linger may then be removed the safety device released. If the trap is accidentally jarredduring this last operation, the hand isentirely on the outside of the holder loop, thus eliminating all danger of the loop striking the fingers and thumb.

'Referring now to Figures ll to 13, there is disclosed another form of my invention which is somewhat similar to that disclosed in Figures 1 to 3. In this embodiment, the base l0 is provided with a substantially semi-circular notch 55 and the finger engaging end 5l of the hait bar raising element 56 terminates within the areas of the holder loop when set `and on a line with the notch 55.

Toi'setlthe-trap, the same operations are carried out as that above described with respect to the form illustrated in Figures 7 to 1G up to theipoint where'the left hand is released from the base of the trap. While the thumb and forenger of the righthand are still holding the holderfloop in its operative position, the thumb and forenger of the left hand will engage the portion 5l and the notch 55, as shown in Figure 13, that is, the thumb will directly engage and depress the portion 51 to the base while the forenger will-be received in the notch 55 and coact with the'thumb to retain the safety element in operative position, at the same time, permitting the base to be securely grasped with out thenecessity of placing one or more ngers under fthe base. By grasping the trap in this manner, it may be easily and quickly moved fromfone position to another and deposited upon a flat surface without the necessity of withdrawing one or more fingers from under the base.

It will be observed from a review of Figures 7 to 13 that the U-shaped portion 55 of the bait raising element is illustrated as not snugly engaging the spring I6, as is shown in Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings. Furthermore, the right hand leg of this U-shaped portion substantially rests upon the base I0. This arrangement does not necessitate as ne'an adjustment of the safety element to the spring during manufacture'and facilitates quantity production. At the same time, none of the eifectiveness of the operation of the device is lost, as the combination `ofthe U-shaped portion 5i and the spring still cooperate to provide a positioning and pivoting means for the safety element upon the base Ill.

In Figures liand l5, I have disclosed a further modification of my invention wherein the base I6 is provided with a nger engaging aperture 58 positioned directly vbeneath the bait holder 29. The latch 22 is adapted'to coact with the tail piece 30 of the retainer loop, and, as in the form shown inFigures 7 to 12, the retainer element is provided with a strengthening retainer element-having the tail piece 30 provides a certain :coordination in the setting of the trap which is absent inthe usual type of trap having the ordinary wire loop holder, even if such trap isiprovidedwith an aperture below the bait holder. .In setting this latter type of trap, it is necessary to first .bring the holder loop overto the opposite side of the/base, then .grasp the wire retainer .element'and swing it over the loop to a position adjacent the bait holder, and finally raise the bait holder to permit the latch .2t to engage the free end of the retainer.

With the present arrangement, however, it is merely necessaryfor the operator to grasp the base of the'trap'in vthe left hand with the ioreiinger projecting through the aperture and in position to easily raise'the bait holder. The holder loop may then be easily vand quickly moved about its pivot b-y the thumb and foreiingerof the right hand. When the loop nears the end of its movement toward the other side of the base, it `will engage the tail piece 30, and automatically swing the retainer element about its pivot, so that the free at end thereof will move to its `rfinal position to engage the latch 26. At the same time, the 'foreiinger of theleft hand will have raisedthe bait holder to the position where the retainer will easily engage the base of the latch and it will then merely `be necessary for the operator to further raise the bait holder to latch the retainerelement in operative position. It will thus be apparent that this combinationof elements greatly facilitates the setting of this type of trap in that it eliminates a number of awkward operations which are necessary with the prior art types of traps.

By providing the loop holder with the reinforcing rib extending longitudinally of the retainer, this element-is substantially reinforced and gives to the retainer the further function o stunning or killing the animal should it attempt to take the bait from the far si'de of the bait holder. Thus, in all of the forms of my construction, the trap is capable of a double action, that is, killing or at least stunning the animal from either side of the base.

With respect to the forms shown in Figures 7 to l and 11-to 13, it will be apparent that both the safety device and notch may be positionedl on either side of the trap and that they will function efliciently at either position. Furthermore, the aperture-58 illustrated in Figures 14 and l may be utilized for hanging the trap on a display stand or other support. In this connection, the lip l5, shown in all forms, may also be used for this purpose.

It is to` be understood that the term nger engaging as used in theclaims is to be broadly construedto include the thumb as well as any of the fingers of a persons hand. It will be further understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction shown in the drawings and that the examples of the use of the devices which have been given do not include all of the uses of which they are capable, and that the phraseology employed in the specification is for the purposes of description and not of limitation.

I claim:

l. For a trap of the 4kind having a rectangular base, a central spring, a holder loop pivoted therein, a bait bar extending adjacent said central spring, longitudinally of the base and toward one end thereof and-a loop retainer extending from the bait bar toward the opposite end of the base, means for raising said bait bar comprising: an element centrally pivoted, having one end under said bait bar and its other end located between said central spring and said opposite end of said base and between said loop retainer and one side edge of said base.

2. For a trap of the kind having a rectangular base, a central spring, a holder loop pivoted therein, a bait bar extending from adjacent said central spring, longitudinally of the base and tward one end thereof and a loop retainer eX- tending from the bait bar toward the opposite end of the base, an element having a thumbengageable portion located between said central spring and said opposite end of said base .and between said loop retainer and one side edge of said base and cooperating with said bait bar to raise it when said portion is depressed.

3. For a trap including a base, a spring, a holder loop actuated thereby and a bait bar on the base and located on one side of the spring, bait bar raising means comprising an element pivotally associated with said base intermediate the ends of the element, one end of the element being located under said bait bar and the other end thereof being located above said base on the opposite side of said spring, and Within said holder loop when said trap is in set position.

4. For a trap including a base, a spring, a holder loop actuated thereby, and a bait bar on the base and located on one side of the spring, bait bar raising means comprising an element, and means for positioning and pivoting said element relative to said base with one end thereof associated with said bait bar for raising it when the other end thereof is depressed, said other end being located on the opposite side of said spring, and within said holder loop when said trap is in set position.

5. For a trap of the kind having a rectangular base, a central spring, a holder loop pivoted therein, a bait bar extending from adjacent said central spring, longitudinally of the base and toward one end thereof and a loop retainer extending from the bait bar toward the opposite end of the base, a lip on the outer end of said loop to facilitate setting of said trap, and means for raising said bait bar comprising an element centrally pivoted, having one end under said bait bar and its other end located within the area defined by said central spring, said opposite end of said base, said loop retainer, and one side of said base.

6. For a trap of the kind having a rectangular base, a central spring, a holder loop pivoted therein, a bait bar extending from adjacent said central spring, longitudinally of the base and toward one end thereof and a movable loop retainer extending from the bait bar toward the opposite end of the base, an element having a thumb engageable portion located within the area defined by said central spring, said opposite end of said base, said loop retainer and one side of said base, said portion being within said holder loop when the trap is set, said element cooperating with said bait bar to raise it when said portion is depressed, said loop retainer having a tail piece adapted to be engaged by said holder loop for thereby swinging said loop retainer toward said bait bar setting of the trap, said holder loop and tail piece being so related that momentum of the movable retainer completes such swinging.

'7. For a trap of the kind having a rectangular base, a central spring, a holder loop pivoted therein, a bait bar extending from adjacent said central spring longitudinally of the base and toward one end thereof, and a loop retainer extending from the bait bar toward the opposite end of the base, means for raising said bait bar comprising an element operatively connected therewith and having a portion which upon being depressed raises said bait bar, said portion being located between said central spring and said opposite end of said base and within the outline of said loop.

8. A trap including a base, a spring, a holder loop actuated thereby and a bait bar on the base and located on one side of the spring, bait bar raising means including an element having a portion thereof extending substantially longitudinally of the base and overlying said spring and having means for positioning and pivoting said element on said base at said spring, with one end of said element associated with said bait bar for raising it when the other end thereof is depressed, said other end being located on the opposite side of said spring and constituting a finger engaging operating handle.

9. A trap including a base, a central spring mounted transversely of the base, a holder loop actuated by said spring, a bait bar mounted on said base and located on one side of said spring, bait bar raising means including an element having a portion thereof extending longitudinally of the base and provided with an offset bent portion straddling the spring and constituting a pivot for said element, with one end thereof associated with said bait bar for raising it when the other end is depressed, said other end being located on the opposite side of the spring and constituting a finger engaging operating handle.

10. A trap including a base, a spring, a holder loop actuated thereby and a bait bar on the base and located on one side of the spring, bait bar raising means including an element having a portion thereof extending substantially longitudinally of the base and overlying said spring, and means for positioning and pivoting said element on said base at said spring, with one end of said element associated with said bait bar fo-r raising it when the other end thereof is depressed, said other end being located on the opposite side of said spring and extending laterally outwardly beyond the connes of the holder loop whereby said bait raising means may be held in operative position exteriorly of said holder loop.

11. A trap including a base having a cutaway portion on one side forming a notch, a spring, a holder loop actuated thereby, and a bait bar on the base and located on one side of the spring, bait bar raising means comprising an element, and means for positioning and pivoting said element relative to said base with one end thereof associated with said bait bar for raising it When the other end thereof is depressed, said other end being located on the opposite side of said spring and projecting into the area dened by the notch whereby said bait raising means may be held in operative position exteriorly of said holder loop.

12. A trap including a base having a cutaway portion in one side forming a notch, a spring, a holder loop actuated thereby and a bait bar on the base and located on one side of the spring, bait bar raising means including an element having a portion thereof extending substantially longitudinally of the base and overlying said spring, and means for positioning and pivoting said element on said base at said spring, with one end of said element associated with said bait bar for raising it when the other end thereof is depressed, said other end being located on the opposite side of said spring and prejecting laterally outwardly into the area dened by the notch whereby said bait raising means may be held in operative position exterorly of said holder loop.

, 13. A trap including a base having a cutaway portion in one side forming a notch, a spring, a holder loop actuated thereby, and a bait bar on the base and located on one side of the spring, bait bar raising means comprising an element, and means for positioning and pivoting said element relative to said base with one end thereof associated with said bait bar for raising it when the other end thereof is depressed, said otherend being located on the opposite side of said spring and within said holder loop when said trap is in set position, said notch facilitating grasping of the base without placing the ngers beneath the base.

14. A trap including a base, a spring, a holder loop actuated thereby and a bait bar on the base and located on one side of the spring, bait bar raising means including an element having a portion thereof associated with said spring for positioning and pivoting said element on the base, said element having a second portion connected to the rst mentioned portion and engaging said bait bar, and a ringer engaging portion positioned on the opposite side of the spring from-the bait bar engaging portion and cooperating therewith to raise the bait bar when the nger engaging portion is depressed.

15. A trap including a base, a spring, a holder loop actuated thereby and a b-ait bar on the base and located on one side of the spring, bait bar raising means including an element comprising a wire having a portion thereof extending substantially longitudinally of the base and having an offset bent portion straddling the spring for positioning and pivoting said element on said base at said spring, said wire having a portion connected to the longitudinal portion and bent to extend under and engage the bait bar, said wire having a finger engaging portion positioned on the opposite side of the spring from the bait bar engaging portion and cooperating therewith to raise the bait bar when the finger engaging portion is depressed.

OLIN R. BOOTH. 

